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'Flexgate': 2016 and Newer MacBook Pro Users Report Display Issues Due to Fragile Flex Cables
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But with most Dells now you get a three year warranty as standard. Not so much with Apple, they'd rather the extra income stream that is Applecare, than they would stand by the quality of their products. And they're still much cheaper than the equivalent Mac. Dell XPS laptops really are quite good nowadays.
I would suppose that the said gentry was opening their computers the same way with previous models, without a problem, apparently. The new design, therefore, seems less tolerant to people, and, as consequence, needed (to) work before being let out on the masses.
Seems like their push for thinness is biting them back hard yet again. And trying to cut costs with cheaper parts...
Yeah except it's not free, you paid $300 for Applecare. So you've just reduced the cost from $600 to $300, when if they hadn't tried to make it thin as possible it wouldn't be a problem. Why should you need to insure yourself against Apple's mistakes?
I gotta say this really annoys me. I have a 2018 15" MBP and, thankfully, I bought AppleCare+ so this shouldn't be too bad financially if it eventually has the problem. However, the time without my laptop is super irritating when they have to send it away for repairs. My 2016 MBP had a logic board issue and they had it for five days. I use my laptop daily for work so that's annoying.
The other thing is that I am a computer consultant (have been for 24 years) and I have had to replace the screen/video signal cables more than once over the years on Windows laptops and MacBooks and it's usually a fairly easy process. The fact that they soldered it to the display unit is the biggest issue. Sure, cables that undergo repetitive motion (opening and closing) will most likely fail at some point. Why couldn't they have just used one of the little plastic locking mechanisms like many other laptops. A $30 cable is now a $600 display and the display unit itself is most likely fine! So annoying. Almost criminally so.
The other thing is that I am a computer consultant (have been for 24 years) and I have had to replace the screen/video signal cables more than once over the years on Windows laptops and MacBooks and it's usually a fairly easy process. The fact that they soldered it to the display unit is the biggest issue. Sure, cables that undergo repetitive motion (opening and closing) will most likely fail at some point. Why couldn't they have just used one of the little plastic locking mechanisms like many other laptops. A $30 cable is now a $600 display and the display unit itself is most likely fine! So annoying. Almost criminally so.
Good news for EU customers. You're covered for a full two years against crappy design faults.
I had a very subtle effect like this with a few of my iPhones. I think it was around the iPhone 6 era. I always thought it was just how the LEDs were spaced out along the edges.
Things like this are the very reason AC+ comes in handy! It's an investment, so keep your investment safe as long as you can.
This is just embarrassing now for Apple. So many products experiencing so many issues. I am not one of those "If Steve Jobs was alive..." people, however, I must say that under his leadership we did not see crap like this happening! I really feel bad for everyone experiencing this garbage.
I love my 2018 MBP, absolutely zero issues so far, but I rarely ever take it off my desk.
I use my 2015 MBP or 2010 MBA when I need to take one of my laptops somewhere. I love my 2015 MBP as it works amazingly well still, and has had absolutely zero issues in 3 1/2 years.
We might as well use our 2016 and up MBP's as workstations and not actually use them for what they are: MOBILE computers.
Shaking my damn head at Apple!
Good luck with your machines everyone!
I love my 2018 MBP, absolutely zero issues so far, but I rarely ever take it off my desk.
I use my 2015 MBP or 2010 MBA when I need to take one of my laptops somewhere. I love my 2015 MBP as it works amazingly well still, and has had absolutely zero issues in 3 1/2 years.
We might as well use our 2016 and up MBP's as workstations and not actually use them for what they are: MOBILE computers.
Shaking my damn head at Apple!
Good luck with your machines everyone!
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With the price points Apple sets for its target, no one should have to purchase AppleCare. The products should last a reasonable 3-5 years. These aren’t collectors items that are only used for display.
Apple did make such a laptop... the 2015 MacBook Pro. Still love mine.
Precisely why I had sold off my 2016 MBP 13 with TB in 2018 and got myself a second-hand Air 2017 instead since I was not able to get a 2015 Pro. A working keyboard is important to me, and a keyboard that I can trust is even more so.
Just Apple's little way of reminding us it's time to upgrade...
I'm so glad to have these built in reminders, otherwise I might go several years without upgrading my computer or phone.
I'm so glad to have these built in reminders, otherwise I might go several years without upgrading my computer or phone.
Tim Cook should leave, apple sells just junk products now, he has no imagination, innovation, or any creativity and creation skills.
A similar issue used to happen to my early 2008 MacBook Pro but it wasn’t related to a cable. If I remember correctly the solution for the 2008 MBP was reseting the PRAM.
MBPs are great devices no doubt, but comparing an equivalent priced Dell Precision or Latitude 7 Series you would see Dell’s build quality and support is actually excellent, my fathers company changes to the latest and greatest Latitudes/Precision’s every 2 years or so and when my father brought some those older Latitudes they’ve lasted 7+ years without failing by the time they were returned and they’re extremely upgradable and quite easily repaired and pretty rugged. The 7 series Latitudes for example come with 3 year warranty with in home service by default and their refurbs are also great. Infact I bought a refurb low end gaming laptop from them and just for a complaint of uneven core temps (though it worked to spec) Dell replaced my $700 7567 laptop with a newer gen 7577 $1,400 laptop (at the time) with a 4K display and and better GPU and double the storage and RAM.
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Concern after concern that the evolving MacBook Pros won't have the reliability of my 2008 MacBook Pro. Still have it because of its massive 17 inch screen. That laptop paid for itself multiple times.
These neo-Apple design issues wouldn't be so concerning if Apple's default warranty were more assuring. Should be 3-5 years by default.
These neo-Apple design issues wouldn't be so concerning if Apple's default warranty were more assuring. Should be 3-5 years by default.
Since the introduction of Macbook 12" the Apple Computer era has seemed to be in free fall.
Is the new rMBA made with the same display flex-cable design? Is the rMB made with the same display flex-cable design?
Better to have AppleCare+, than not, I suppose.
But to me, AppleCare+ is just Paleative Care on poorly-engineered designs. No panacea.
You are assuming [a very big assumption], that Apple's Geniuses will fix the defect on a crowded back-room, devoid of QC. And, maintain the integrity of the original (correct torque settings, replacing bad design with improved design parts,...). Sending the product to for-hire repair parties could be even worse as they remain anonymous.
These defects are not meant to be fixed during a product's normal life-cycle. I have never would have expected an early failure of display connectors -- and to add insult to injury, there is Apple's silent treatment.
